Thomas Winkelmann is falling onto a pillow, while many Air Berlin employees are facing joblessness

BILD asked Air Berlin’s CEO Thomas Winkelmann (58) a lot of questions around midday yesterday. But, the paper didn’t get any answers. Instead, his phone was redirected yesterday evening to a call center in Palma de Mallorca …

►►► Thomas Winkelmann is falling onto a pillow, while many Air Berlin employees are facing unemployment. In February, the former Lufthansa manager Winkelmann started working for Air Berlin after having received a four-year contract which was going to run until January 31, 2021. With a fixed gross salary of €950 000 per year. In addition, he was granted a yearly bonus payment of up to €950 000 (variable renumeration). What’s more, he was granted a lump sum payment of €300 000 to compansate for any disadvantages on his pension entitlements. For the first year, he was provided with a minimum bonus of €400 000. In all, the minimum compensation adds up to €4,5 million.

And they will become tomorrow’s unemployed; Air Berlin’s angry employeesFoto: dpa

However, Air Berlin was already in a deep financial crisis when Winkelmann began his job at the company. To insiders, Air Berlin’s bankruptcy was only a matter of time.

According to the annual report 2016, Air Berlin’s compensation committee made use of a clever trick “due to the extraordinary and unexpected circumstances”. “A non-returnable bank gaurantee in the amount of up to €4,5 million was issued in favor of Mr Winkelmann in order to protect payment obligations.”

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In plain text: Even if Air Berlin were to face bankruptcy, there would always be sufficient money in the bank for Mr Winkelmann’s income. It works to his advantage, because even if his contract is prematurely terminated by Air Berlin (six months period of notice, for the first time as of Januar 31, 2019), he will receive his base salary as per his contract over the entire term of the contract.

Upon assuming his position, Mr Winkelmann said that he wanted “to ensure a profitable future for Air Berlin”. However, the insolvency insurance for the Chief Executive Officer says otherwise.

“It appears that Air Berlin’s bankruptcy was provided for from the outset. Winkelmann knew that he was never going to work the entire four years”, says Nicoley Baublies, head of the cabin crew union UFO.

“It’s an impertinence to the employees who don’t receive guaranteed income!”

Employees aren’t the only ones who are affected by it. Some 200 000 customers who booked flights before August 15, 2017 and whose flights have been cancelled will most likely not be reimbursed.